Dún Ibhir (meaning "Ibhir's stronghold" or "Ibhir's fort", anglicised as Dooniver)[2] is a Gaeltacht village on Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland.

Dooniver
Dún Ibhir
Village
Dooniver is located in Ireland
Dooniver
Dooniver
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53°59′46″N 9°56′55″W / 53.9960°N 9.9486°W / 53.9960; -9.9486
CountryIreland
ProvinceConnacht
CountyCounty Mayo
Area
 • Total3.2 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid ReferenceL709089
Websitewww.dooniver.com

Geography

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Dooniver is located on the east coast of Achill Island. Surrounding villages include Askill, The Valley: Tóin an tSeanbhaile and Bunnacurry. The townland of Dooniver is broken into a number of subsections, including Bullsmouth, Claddagh, Dooniver, The Brae, Baile na locha (Lakeside), Dionn, Áird Mhór, New Road and Sebastopol.

Dooniver has a number of beaches including Dooniver strand and Bullsmouth Beach. Just off the village is the island of Innisbiggle.

Census

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The following list taken from The Mayo County Council Website shows the population of the village in the years 1841-1921.

Year Population Houses
1841 252 50
1851 219 45
1861 254 52
1871 280 60
1881 234 45
1891 213 41
1901 270 48
1911 260 43
1921 242 58

Facilities and amenities

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Dooniver has a number of amenities, including a National School, hall, garage, plant hire, headstone maker and coffee shop. There is a bed and breakfast and caravan park. The village has one postbox, one bus stop and is served by Bus Éireann 440 once a day in each direction.

Education

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Dooniver has a National School (founded in 1910). The National School was originally in Bullsmouth, but was later moved. Students had a choice of going to either McHale College or Scoil Damhnait which is located in Pollranny in the Achill area but now go to the new Colaiste Pobail Acla.

Sport

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Dooniver Swifts played in the Mayo Association Football League during the 1950s. There is a GAA pitch in the area called St. Joseph's Park. Dooniver is a part of the St. Colman's (Dooniver, Askill, The Valley, Dugort and Dookinella) local GAA team and the 'DVDs' (Dooniver, The Valley, Dugort) soccer team. The professional boxer Johnny Kilbane has relatives in the village.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Dooniver Map, Connaught".
  2. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
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